Yovicsin to Rely on Potent Running Attack

While a coach at Gettysburg College, John Yovicsin used a wide-open acrial game. But since moving to Harvard, he has gradually shifted to a ground-gaining game. During his first year with the Crimson, Yovicsin's quarterbacks compiled an average of 85.7 yards per game in the air. Last year the figure had dropped to 43.8.

The switch was not the result of a change in philosophy. Rather it was the application of Yovicsin's basic tenet--at the offense to the personnel. Rather than trying to develop players for an offense, Yovicsin develops an offense to match the individual talents of his team.

"We haven't had passing players here very often," Yovicsin recalls, "so it only made good sense to go on the ground."

As was the case last year, this season the Crimson's biggest threat will be on running plays. Quarterback Mike Bassett is a good running quarterback, and he knows how to utilize the talents of his backfield, which includes such proven line crashers as Bill Grana and Scott Harshbarger, and break away specialists Hobie Armstrong, Bill Taylor, and Hank Hatch.

Harvard's attack will be similar to that of last year, but look for more passing. Bill Humenuk is a passing quarterback, as is Terry Bartolet, who returns after a year's absence. When these boys are in the game, footballs will tend to be pelled rather than carried.

In addition, Harvard's offensive thrust should be a little more sophisticated than last year. When Ted Halaby was injured early last season, Yovicsin was faced with the prospect of going with two sophomore quarterbacks, a sophomore fullback, and relatively inexperienced halfbacks. Now that this crew has had a season to gain confidence and learn new skills, Yovvy feels safer about trying greater diversity. The attack will be better balanced between passing and running, and there will be more pass option plays.

Bassett will probably do his passing from a roll-out pattern (giving him a chance to run if this proves expedient), while Humenuk and Bartolet will tend to drop back and hurl longer missiles. As the season progresses, halfbacks Taylor and Harshbarger, and maybe even fullback Grana might be doing some passing. If such a situation materializes, and if the line can provide the necessary blocking and pass protection, the Harvard attack, potentially explosive on the ground or in the air, will be difficult to defense.

Simple Offense

In spite of the plans to increase di- versity and sophistication, the total offensive scheme is quite simple. There are only about 15 basic plays derived from three basic series in the Crimson play curriculum, Yovicsin revealed.

Yovicsin pleads two reasons for this basic simplicity. The most important is the time factor at an Ivy School, and especially Harvard. "There just isn't time to teach the fundamentals and hundreds of plays in the few weeks of pre-season practice we are allowed," the coach commented. The other reason is Yovicsin feels that only plays engineered and executed with perfection will work in the college game of today. "I'd rather do fewer plays and do them perfectly," Yovvy said. "If we do what we try right, we'll win ball games. Simplicity is the key to perfection in offensive football."

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When Harvard lines up this fall, more often than not it will be in a solid-T with a balanced line. Yovicsin still likes to call his offense a flanker-T, however, and the Crimson will employ numerous variations.

Basic Harvard Formation

Harvard Wing-T or Flanker-T

One of the most common alternative positions will be a wing-T or flanker-T, with any of the three running backs set on either side. The attack is sill theoretically balanced with 5 1/2 men on each side of the center. A winged man may gain a better blocking angle on a particular play, to give added protection to a quarterback attempting a pass, or he can break away quickly to go for a pass. The wingback or flanker can also fool the defense into protecting the wing side, and then reverse on the play for a pitch-out or hand-off.

One Harvard variation of Wing-T

In one Harvard variation of the wing-T, the opposite side halfback is winged. This puts six men on side of the center. The defense must adjust to this or risk being weaker on one side. The advantage here is one of power, and the offense can pull a power sweep to one side, or utilize the wingback for pass protection blocking, among other plays.

Harvard Slot-T

Once in a while you may see the Crimson use this pro-type pattern, with a half-back stationed inside a split, or wide, end. This is ordinarily a passing formation, as the wingback and the wide end can both break downfield and overload the secondary defenses. To make it work, though, you need a good line and a good blocking fullback to protect the passer. Grana is up to the fullback blocking; the question is whether or not the line is ready for such assignments. Yovicsin said the Crimson will probably run as well as pass off this formation.

Other variations Harvard may use from time to time include the double wing, and the "end-over," which creates an unbalanced line.

Yovicsin usually spaces his line about two to three feet between each man. Until the line gains experience line assignments will be generally uncomplicated, but Harvard will probably employ traps, double-teaming (two on one) blocking techniques, and occasionally will pull guards and tackles in singe-wing fashion.

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So much for formations. What happens when the ball is snapped. Yovicsin, of course, won't give out detailed information, but he described the basic play series on the Crimson list.

Power Sweep

With his concentration of running power, Yovicsin is apt to call for heavy use of the "power sweep," particularly off the basic-T. (When talking about the plays we will assume a motion to the right. The Crimson runs the plays both ways, however.) In this play the right halfback often cuts off tackle, the fullback off guard, and the left half through the middle. The quarterback can either pitch-out or hand-off to one of these men, or keep the ball and go around the end. If the quarterback pitches out, look for the halfback to try to sweep around the end. If it is a hand-off, the play is apt to go "inside," over tackle. The whole idea is to overload the defense with concentrated pressure on one side of the line.

Belly Series

Harvard is also fond of the "outside belly" or "ride" series, perfected at Oklahoma by Bud Wilkenson. The key man in the series is the quarterback, and Bassett excells in this type of work. In the play, when run from the basic-T, the fullback and the right half-back both plunge toward the tackle. The left half-back runs wide to the right and parallel to the line of scrimmage. The quarterback takes the snap and thrusts the ball into the belly of the fullback (giving the series its name). He has the option of letting the fullback keep the ball and carry over tackle, or withdraw-it.

If he elects to retrieve it from the fullback's stomach, he can either attempt to crack the line himself, or drop back for a pass. Bassett, who has the agility to spin from tackler's grasp, does well on the "keeper."

Another possibility is to fake to the fullback and pitch out to the left half-back (who is running approximately parallel to the line). The halfback can either run the ball around end, or pass downfield.

To make the series work, the quarterback must react to the development of the defense and chose his option in a split second. If the quarterback is capable of this, the "outside belly" series is extremely tough to defense. Yovicsin may also employ an "inside belly" series now and then.

Run-Pass Option

The third major play series in the Crimson repertoire is the run-pass option, and probably will be the favorite of Humenuk and Bartolet. The quarterback takes the snap from center and fades back five to six yards. Up to three receivers (usually the two ends and one halfback) go downfield. The other provide blocking protection. If the quarterback sees no one open, he yells "go" and the potential pass receivers cut back to block out the secondary as the quarterback runs the ball over the line